[Closed] What basic video conversion software?

Handbrake? Certainly it's good for transcoding video

I do the two using a combination of RipIt and Handbrake.

Handbrake can do ripping too - but I seem to remember it being a bit of a faff. It has the advantage of being free. 🙂 RipIt wasn't expensive though and makes it very easy to do.

ffmpeg / mplayer. You can do pretty much any thing with these. Very powerful. Don't be scared of the command line. ffmpeg is very well documented and there simple examples. Google what you want to do and there will be an example.

resizing
https://trac.ffmpeg.org/wiki/Scaling%20(resizing)%20with%20ffmpeg

encoding in divex
http://trac.ffmpeg.org/wiki/How%20to%20encode%20Xvid%20/%20DivX%20video%20with%20ffmpeg

Super is amazing and free.
[url= http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html ]http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html[/url]
Will convert anything to anything, resize etc.

Direct download link (it's tricky to find on the website)
[url= http://www.erightsoft.biz/GetFile.php?SUPERsetup.exe ]http://www.erightsoft.biz/GetFile.php?SUPERsetup.exe[/url]

When you install, just be careful to decline any toolbars, browser search stuff etc.

Yes, FFMPEG is very useful.
You can use WinFF if you want a easy interface. http://winff.org/

As above RipIt and Handbrake.

Handbrake or MPEG Streamclip.

Isn't FFMPEG just handbrake without the friendly UI?

I electronicized my entire DVD collection using ripit and handbrake. If you're on a mac you can automate the process, which is described here: [url= http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=805573 ]#nerd[/url]

Be warned - this is quite a lengthy process (depending on the spec of your machine). If you already own the DVDs, there is an argument for just downloading those films in a friendlier format (MKV typically) - however you will have to decide whether you are comfortable doing this*

*prepares for flaming and inevetable degeneration into "taping songs off the radio is killing the music industry" type debate